Mail-bag catcher.



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wilgzsscs KW Patented May 127, 1904.

PATENT CEEICE.

GROVER J. BOGEI, OF GARDEN CITY, KANSAS.

MAI L-BAG CATCH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 760,175, dated May 1'7, 1904. Application filed February 29, 1904. Serial No. 195,915. (No model.)

T0 all, whom, t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, GRovnR J. BoeE'r, a citizen of the United States, residing' at Garden City, in the county of Finney and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Mail-Bag Catcher, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices employed for catching mail-bags and transferring them to moving trains, and has for its object to simplify and improve the construction, increase the eiciency, and reduce the danger of opel'- ation.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter fully described and claimed. V Y

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which corren sponding parts are denoted by like designating characters, is illustrated the preferred form of the embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation,

it being understood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto, as various changes 1n the shape, proportions, and general assemblage of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is therefore reserved of making all the changes and modiiications which fairly fall within the scope of the invention and the claims made therefor.

In the drawings thus employed, Figure 1 is a view of a portion of a mailbar with the improved catcher applied and partially in section. Fig. 2 is a perpective view, enlarged, of a portion of the improved device.

Devices of this class are generally disposed in the doorway-openings of railway mail-cars 10 upon a transverse rod 11, supported by its ends in brackets 12 13 upon the side posts of the doorway, the rod being detachably connected, as by pin 14 fitting an aperture in the rod.

The improved catcher consists of a receiver 15, substantially in U shape, with the sides diverging and terminating in exterior returnbends 16 17 and with a lateral supporting-arm 18, terminating in a transverse sleeve 19, rotatively engaging the rod 11. A handle member 2O is connected to the side of the sleeve opposite the arm 18 and in longitudinal alinement therewith and preferably provided with a wooden covering or hand-grip 21, supported in position by a nut 22. By this means the receiver is in position to swing upon the rod to project and withdraw it away from and into the car. 4

`Within the receiver 15 resilient members 23 24 are supported by perforations 25 in one end, movably engaging the inner end of the receiver and diverging toward open end of the same and terminating in exterior returnbends 27 28, conforming to and interengaging the return-bends 16 17 of the receiver and secured in place, as by rivets 29 30.

The receiver 15, with its terminals 16 17, supporting-arm 18, and transverse sleeve 19, will preferably be in one piece of steel,l either forged or cast, and the handle-core 20 will preferablybe screwed into the sleeve.

By this simple arrangement a mail-catching device is produced which will receive the mailbag between the resilientmembers 23 24 and hold it with suiiicient iirmness to elfectually prevent accidental displacement until forcibly removed by the operator` after withdrawal into the car and at the same time by reason of the yielding nature of the members 23 24 injury to the bag is prevented.

The device is very safe vto operate and may be very strongly constructed and at a comparatively small expense.

It will be understood that the same device may be employed at stations to receive bags from moving' trains without change of structure.

A rubber or other yielding body or cushion 31 will be disposed between the sleeve .19 and the bracket 12 or 13, which for the time being is at the forward end of the car to receive the impact and prevent injury to the device or to the mail-bag.

Having thus described is claimed is- 1. In a device for catching mail-bags, a receiver of substantially U shape having diverging sides terminating in exterior returnthe invention, what IOO bends, and resilient members movably connected at one end Within said receiver and with their other ends diverging and terminating' in exterior return-bends for engaging the return-bend terminals of said receiver.

2. In a device for catching mail-bags, a receiver of substantially U shape having diverging sides terminating in exterior returnbends, and resilient members having transverse perforations movably engaging said receiver and diverging toward the open end of the same and terminating in exterior returnbends for engaging the return-bends of said receiver-terminals.

3. In a ldevice for catching mail-bags, a receiver of substantially U shape having its sides diverging toward the open end, and resilient members movably connected to the inner end of said receiver and diverging toward the open end of the same and connected to the terminals of said diverging sides.

4.' In a device forcatching mail-bags, a receiver of substantially U shape having its sides diverging toward the open end and resilient members transversely perforated for movably engaging said receiver at its inner end, and diverging outwardly and connected to the terminals lof said diverging sides.

5.' vIn a device for catching mail-bags, a receiver of substantially U shape having its sides diverging towardv the open end, resilient members movably connected to the inner end oi' said receiver and diverging toward the open end of the same and connected to the terminals of said diverging sides, and a laterally-extending supporting-arm intermediately oi' said receiver.

' 6. yIn a device for catching mail-bags, a receiver of substantially U shape having its sides diverging toward the open end, resilient members movably connected to the inner end of said receiver and diverging toward the open end of the same and connected to the terminals of said diverging sides, a laterally-extending supportingarm intermediately of said receiver, and means for suspending said supporting-arm in position to swing vertically.

7. In a device for catching mail-bags, a receiver of substantially U shape having its sides diverging toward the open end, resilient members movably connected to the inner end of said receiver and diverging toward the open end of the same and connected to the terminals of said diverging sides, a laterally-extending supportingarm intermediately of said receiver and terminating in a transverse sleeve, a rod for rotatively receiving said sleeve, and means for rotating said sleeve and the receiver supported therefrom.'

8. In a device for catching mail-bags, a receiver of substantially U shape having diverging sides terminating in exterior return-bends and With an integral supporting-arm extending laterally intermediately of said receiver and terminating in an integral transverse sleeve, and resilient members movably connected at one end Within said receiver and with their other ends diverging and terminating in exterior return-bends for engaging the return-bends of said receiver-terminals.

9. In a device for catching mail-bags, a receiver of'substantially U shape having diverging sides terminating in exterior return-bends and with an integral supporting-arm extending laterally intermediately of said receiver and terminating in an integral transverse sleeve, an operating-handle connected to said sleeve and extending in longitudinal alinement With said lateral arm, and resilient members movably connected at one end Within said receiver and With their other ends diverging and terminating in exterior returnbends for engaging the return-bends of said receiver-terminals.

10. In a device i'or catching mail-bags, a receiver of substantially U shape having its sides diverging toward the open end, resilient members movably connected to the inner end of said receiver and diverging toward the open end of the same and connected to the terminals of said diverging sides, a laterally-extending supporting arm intermediately of said receiver and terminating in a transverse sleeve, a rod for rotatively receiving said sleeve, and brackets for connection to a supporting structure for suspending said shaft.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses. i

GROVER J. BOGET. Vitnesses:

SAuL. CRAIG, R. J MCCHURKIN. 

